James has gone from climbing near his family home in the Peak District of England to exploring walls and mountains in exotic locations around the globe everywhere from Tazmania to Thailand. His first venture into rock climbing came at the age of 15 and it was soon clear that he was blessed with a naturally elegant climbing style. However, he also had the dedication and commitment to refine and develop that talent and by the age of 19 he was already one of the UK’s brightest climbing stars. James has been scouring the planet for more demanding challenges ever since.
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News posts and Articles featuring James
In 2008, James Pearson made the first ascent of The Walk of Life Dyer's Lookout on the North Devon Coast. The route climbs a direct start to Ian Vickers' Dyer Straits (E8 6c) which was protected by pegs. At the time Pearson graded the route E12 7...
Our Friday Night Video this week is a trip to Japan to climb the country's highest waterfall: Shomyo Falls in Toyama. Sawanobori is the Japanese art of climbing a mountain river to its source, involving scrambling up gullies, ravines and...
On Wednesday 20th March, UKC hosted The North Face Speaker Series 'Sawanobori' film launch, featuring TNF athletes James Pearson, Caroline Ciavaldini, Matty Hong, Yuji Hirayama and Toru Nakajima. These athletes weren't climbing rock...
In November 2017, James Pearson made the first ascent of Power Ranger 5.14 R at Sunset Rocks, Chattanooga, TN. A video has...
James Pearson has made the first ascent of a run-out 8c trad line at Sunset Rocks, Chattanooga, TN, which he...
Back in May, we reported that James Pearson had made the first ascent of an impressive E10 7a crack line at Annot, in Provence....
Yesterday James Pearson made the fourth ascent of Rhapsody E11 7a at Dumbarton Rock near Glasgow. Having previously tried...
Reviews from the UKC editorial team
In this group test we compare nine pairs of performance shoes with a women's / low volume fit. How did they all do...?
Whether you're approaching a mountain crag or out on a scramble or via ferrata, an approach shoe will be lighter and more nimble than a boot, yet more supportive and technically capable than a running shoe. In this group test we check out ten models from big brands.
John McKenna tries this combination of a light shell jacket and softshell trousers on the rainy Scottish hills and crags.
More than just a trail running shoe, the Kaptiva can cope with most of what the UK hills can throw at it, says Bridget Collier.
We're just back from the annual summer gear-fest that is the OutDoor trade show. Over three long days we saw a lot (and we mean a lot)...
For a dedicated sport climbing harness you will want something light, comfortable and fairly simple. In this group test...
With a lightweight upper and an excellent balance of support and nimble-footedness, the Trango Tower Extreme GTX are superb...
Annoucements direct from manufacturers
FUTURELIGHT has been tested extensively for more than 400 continuous days by 15 members of the brand's global athlete team, proven through use in the highest peaks and harshest environments, including the Himalayas' Lhotse and Everest, in temperat...
The North Face changed the future of the outerwear industry with the unveiling of FUTURELIGHT™ jackets, pants, and bibs in its Summit Series™, Steep Series™ and Flight Series™ collections. Developed using...
The first bi-directional belay device with a backup. The Revo makes belaying simple, safe and more intuitive.
We're just back from the annual summer gear-fest that is the OutDoor trade show. As Europe sweltered in the heat...
We're just back from the annual summer gear-fest that is the OutDoor trade show. As Europe sweltered in the heat the...
We're just back from the annual summer gear-fest that is the OutDoor trade show. As Europe sweltered in the...
The only thing that'll work harder than you on the predawn skin is this polartec® power grid™ fleece...
